North Carolina ranks 22nd out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#39of 51
Speed#28of 51
Ease of ordering#14 (tie)of 51
Birth certificates #23 of 51
Cost
$24 first copy, $15 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: 10 business days; in person: by appointment only
Time until the copy is in hand
About 13–15 business days by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1913; earlier records from the county Register of Deeds
Marriage records #34 of 51
Cost
$24 first copy, $15 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: 9 months; in person: by appointment only
Time until the copy is in hand
About 9 months by mail from the state (estimate); county Register of Deeds offices are faster
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1962; also from the Register of Deeds in the county where the marriage took place
Divorce records #22 of 51
Cost
$24 first copy, $15 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: 9 months; in person: by appointment only
Time until the copy is in hand
About 9 months by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office (divorce certificate) or the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted (full decree)
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State divorce certificates from 1958; full decrees from the county Clerk of Superior Court
Death certificates #15 of 51
Cost
$24 first copy, $15 each extra copy
Processing time
Mail: 2 business days for deaths since 2022, 11 business days for 1930–2021; in person: by appointment only
Time until the copy is in hand
About 5–7 business days by mail for deaths since 2022; about 14–16 business days for older deaths (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1930
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order North Carolina birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a North Carolina birth certificate?
A certified North Carolina birth certificate costs $24, which covers a search of one three-year period and one copy, plus $15 for each extra copy. Order from NC Vital Records online or by phone through VitalChek ($37.95 total with regular shipping), by mail, or in person by appointment. You can also order from the Register of Deeds in the county of birth, which in most cases can issue it the same day.
North Carolina birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Certified copies go to the person named or a parent named on the certificate. A spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal guardian, legal representative or anyone with a direct and tangible interest can also order, with documents proving the relationship or legal need (listed on the application).
Fee
$24 search fee per three-year period, including one copy if the record is found; $15 for each extra copy of the same certificate. The search fee is non-refundable even if no record is found. Extras: VitalChek processing fee $13.95 online or by phone (total $37.95 with USPS, or $57.95 with UPS overnight at $20). Mail orders carry a $6 VitalChek handling fee. In-person expedited processing adds $15.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, the only authorized vendor, or 1-800-669-8310. By mail: the Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Birth Certificate with an ID copy and payment made out to “VitalChek” (personal check, money order or card), to North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900. Don’t send cash. In person: by appointment only at the Cooper Memorial Health Building, 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh, Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (last appointment 2:30 p.m.). Book online or call 919-733-3000, Option 3. County: the Register of Deeds in the county where the birth happened.
ID needed
A legible copy of one current government photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID with an address matching the application, passport or U.S. military ID. Without one, send two secondary documents such as a utility bill, bank statement, recent pay stub or W-2.
Processing time
NC Vital Records posts an average of 10 business days for birth certificates, counted from when the order is entered to when it ships. The mail-in application warns that requests can take up to four months plus mail time. VitalChek orders follow the same state processing times. Register of Deeds: in most cases the same day. Estimate: about 13–15 business days by mail at the posted average.
Older and local records
The state has birth certificates from 1913 on. For births before 1913, contact the Register of Deeds in the county of birth.
Tip: In a hurry? Go to the Register of Deeds in the county of birth. They can usually issue the certificate the same day.
A certified North Carolina death certificate costs $24 for the search and one copy, plus $15 for each extra copy. Order from NC Vital Records online, by phone, by mail or in person by appointment, or from the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred, not the county where the person lived.
North Carolina death records: ordering details
Who can order
The current spouse named on the death certificate, a parent or stepparent, child or stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal guardian or legal representative, with documents proving the relationship. Others need proof of a tangible interest or legal need, such as court, insurance or estate documents.
Fee
$24 search fee per three-year period, including one copy; $15 each extra copy. Non-refundable if no record is found. Extras: VitalChek $13.95 online or by phone (total $37.95, or $57.95 with UPS overnight); $6 VitalChek handling fee by mail; $15 in-person expedited processing.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or 1-800-669-8310. By mail: the Application for a Copy of a North Carolina Death Certificate with an ID copy and payment to “VitalChek”, to North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900. In person: by appointment at 225 N. McDowell St., Raleigh. County: the Register of Deeds in the county of death.
ID needed
A copy of one current government photo ID, or two secondary documents showing your name and current address.
Processing time
Posted averages: 2 business days for deaths from 2022 on, and 11 business days for deaths from 1930–2021, until the order ships. The mail-in application warns of up to four months plus mail time. Register of Deeds: in most cases the same day.
Older and local records
The state has death certificates from 1930 on. For deaths before 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives; a few delayed death records go back to 1909.
Tip: Order from the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred. The county where the person lived won’t have the record.
How do I get a North Carolina marriage certificate?
You can order a North Carolina marriage certificate from the Register of Deeds in the county where the license was issued, or from NC Vital Records for marriages from 1962 on. The state charges $24 for the search and one copy, but its posted average processing time is 9 months, so the county is usually the better choice.
North Carolina marriage records: ordering details
Who can order
State: the spouses, and certain relatives or legal representatives with documents proving the relationship, as listed on the state application. Register of Deeds: contact the office.
Fee
State: $24 search fee per three-year period, including one copy; $15 each extra copy. Plus VitalChek’s $13.95 online or by phone, or $6 by mail. Register of Deeds: contact the county for its fee.
How to order
County: the Register of Deeds where the license was issued. The county also handles any changes or replacements. State:VitalChek online or 1-800-669-8310; or by mail with the Application for a North Carolina Marriage Record to North Carolina Vital Records, ATTN: VC Certificate Orders, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1900; or in person by appointment.
ID needed
A copy of one current government photo ID, or two secondary documents.
Processing time
State: a posted average of 9 months. Register of Deeds: in most cases the same day.
Older records
The state has marriage certificates from 1962 on. For earlier marriages, contact the county Register of Deeds.
Tip: Need a statement of no marriage to wed abroad? Order it through the normal marriage certificate process with NC Vital Records. Any apostille comes from the NC Secretary of State.
NC Vital Records issues divorce certificates for divorces from January 1, 1958 on: $24 for the search and one copy, with a posted average processing time of 9 months. Divorce certificates and the full case file are also available from the Clerk of Court in the county where the divorce was filed.
North Carolina divorce records: ordering details
Certificate vs. decree
Divorce certificate: the names of both people, who filed (plaintiff and defendant), the dates of marriage and separation and some other details. Court records: for the decree and other case documents, contact the Clerk of Court.
Who can order
State: the people named on the certificate and others listed on the state application, with proof of relationship or legal need. Clerk of Court: contact the clerk.
Fee
State: $24 search fee per three-year period, including one copy; $15 each extra copy, plus VitalChek’s $13.95 online or by phone, or $6 by mail. Clerk of Court: contact the court for copy fees.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other North Carolina records people search for
Official North Carolina sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Official North Carolina sites for other records
Court case lookup
NC eCourts Portal Judicial Branch case search; some counties may still be moving over.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About North Carolina public records
Certificate Information
Birth Records are available from 1913 to present. Search for records costs $24 dollars and includes one certified copy. Additional
copies are $15 dollars each. Expedited service and overnight shipping are $15-$20 dollars each. The fastest service is done by
walking in to the Vital Records office in Raleigh, which is open from 8am to 3pm Mon-Fri. Same day in person service costs $39 dollars.
Regular Service:
North Carolina Vital Records
1903 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1903
Expedited Service - Fedex or UPS to:
N.C. Vital Records
225 North McDowell Street
Raleigh, N.C. 27603-1382
Death certificates are available from 1930 to present.
Marriage records are availabe from 1962 to present.
Divorce records are available from 1958 to present.
Adoptions in North Carolina allow for easy contact between birth parents, siblings and adoptees. All adoptions that happen in
North Carolina have an option to maintain contact any time after the adoption is finalized. It is also legal for birth parents
and adoptees to use private media and advertising to find each other.
Birth families and adoptees can also connect with each other if both parties provide written consent and can use a state certified
Confidential Intermediary.
